Paul's associates in his ministry included Aquila and Prisca (Priscilla is a pet name, a diminutive, little Prisca). Like Paul, they were tentmakers, creating a second bond.
The three met in Corinth, probably around 50 CE. Emperor Claudius had expelled Jews from Rome. We do not know if Paul was instrumental in converting the couple, or if they were already Christians when they arrived in Corinth. Eighteen months later, all three went to Ephesus. Jointly, the couple worked to bring Apollos, a powerful preacher, into a better understanding of Christianity. The New Testament has six mentions of Priscilla and Aquila: Acts 18:2,18,26; Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19. Aquila's name comes first in the odd-numbered mentions, while Priscilla's comes first in the even-numbered mentions. Flipping the order of their names may emphasize that they are being mentioned on equal terms. The Church's Prayer for Prisca and Aquila: God of grace and might, who gave to your servants Aquila and Priscilla gifts of zeal and eloquence to make known the truth of the Gospel: Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Saints Alive!
I have been privileged to offer Noonday Prayer at my church, usually on Thursdays, which doesn’t matter because it’s on Youtube forever. [It’s amazing what can be done with a smartphone and a smart, helpful parish administrator!] The service is brief, with a place for a meditation. We usually look at the Episcopal calendar of saints, who are nearly always honored on their death dates, not their birth dates. Here is a hymn by medieval saint Hildegard of Bingen to set the mood.
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